Chapter 163

Chapter 163: Stealing the Beam, Changing the Pillar

Demonic cultivators were like rats crossing the street, hated by all and pursued relentlessly by every cultivator in the Majestic Cosmos Realm. With no choice, they halted their abductions and returned to hiding in the shadows. Yet, their masters demanded results. Thus, their cunning gaze fell upon the mortal world, searching tirelessly for mortals born with special physiques, quietly smuggling them into Wei Ling.

Raising these mortals as furnace cauldrons from childhood guaranteed their loyalty and willingness to sacrifice. Though it required patience, the method allowed them to evade detection from Wei Yu’s cultivators. After careful consideration, the demonic cultivators chose this path, accepting the slow pace to avoid further disaster.

These events unfolded after the destruction of Rosy Cloud Valley. Yun Xi and her companions, already transported into the mortal world, remained unaware of the schemes unfolding behind their backs. Yet fate, whimsical as ever, placed them right in the center of the storm, all due to Yun Xi’s butterfly wings gently stirring unseen ripples.

Back to the present, Yun Xi’s reasoning earned nods of approval from Liu Hao Tian and Yu Qing Cheng. Now it was time to act.

Yun Xi lightly touched the Flying Rosy Cloud Butterfly on her hairpin and spoke gently, “Flying Rosy Cloud, it’s your turn to shine. Watch closely over those flower queens with special physiques. See where they’re ultimately taken. Inform me at once if anything unusual happens.”

Flying Rosy Cloud fluttered her delicate wings once, vanishing from sight to fulfill her task.

Xia You couldn’t hold back her anger and remarked bitterly, “These demonic cultivators truly are everywhere. Is there no wickedness they won’t stoop to? From corrupting mortals with their sinister arts to treating innocents as mere goods for trade—how vile!”

Liu Hao Tian remained calm and replied thoughtfully, “Demonic cultivators desire the same immortality we seek, wishing to walk side by side with heaven and earth. Yet they refuse honest effort, craving shortcuts instead. But tell me, is such a path truly easy? Has anyone ever heard of a demonic cultivator ascending after enduring heavenly tribulation? All I’ve heard is how they’re reduced to ashes beneath lightning’s wrath.”

He continued, turning a respectful gaze towards Yun Xi, “Remember when Daoist Master Wei risked a premature Golden Core breakthrough to destroy the corpse-refining site? You all saw it—the tribulation she summoned was the Nine Heavens Mystic Lightning, not the usual eighteen strikes, but twenty-seven in total. That’s heaven itself clearly showing its disdain for the demonic path.”

Yun Xi sighed deeply; recalling it was truly tear-inducing. She too had expected only eighteen lightning strikes, yet fate cruelly added nine more. Without Dian Dian feeding her spiritual energy, the Seven Star Life-Ending Staff absorbing lightning, and her innate lightning spiritual root, she’d have perished without question.

No wonder Liu Hao Tian had been ready to risk his own breakthrough—prepared to intervene if Yun Xi failed.

Yun Xi gently petted Dian Dian nestled in her arms, silently reflecting that they truly deserved each other. Even Dian Dian’s second-stage tribulation had been as fierce as a fourth-stage lightning trial, nearly taking its little life.

Now certain demonic cultivators were lurking in Jinyun City, the four remained vigilant, quietly secluded in their courtyard. All information about the Flower Queen competition was gathered discreetly by Flying Rosy Cloud.

Two days passed uneventfully, and the Flower Queen competition concluded successfully. Twenty beauties were chosen, soon to be sent to the capital city.

The group guessed the demonic cultivators would strike somewhere along the route to the capital. Yu Qing Cheng confirmed that each selected beauty indeed possessed a special physique, validating their earlier deductions.

Yun Xi considered carefully before saying, “Following the caravan openly might alert the demonic cultivators. It’s better if we secretly blend into their group.”

Liu Hao Tian shook his head, “The caravan consists entirely of mortals. Our disguises might fool mortals, but never demonic cultivators.”

Yun Xi nodded decisively, “Then I shall impersonate one of the selected flower queens. I have treasures capable of concealing my identity, and I can easily pretend to be mortal.”

As she spoke, under everyone’s gaze, Yun Xi deliberately suppressed her aura, dropping from Golden Core cultivation down to the state of a mortal, hiding all traces of spiritual energy completely.

Yu Qing Cheng praised her enthusiastically, “Daoist Master Wei, your methods are truly remarkable! Now we only need someone to replace.”

“I’ve already found the perfect candidate,” Yun Xi said confidently. “There’s a flower queen named Min Yue who desperately doesn’t want to go to the capital. She seems to know something and strongly opposes leaving.”

“Then we must act quickly,” Liu Hao Tian urged.

“Agreed.”

That same night, Yun Xi and Liu Hao Tian slipped silently into Min Yue’s room, flawlessly executing their plan. Yun Xi donned Min Yue’s clothing, gently touched her rabbit-earring artifact, and instantly transformed into the stunningly beautiful Min Yue.

The night passed peacefully.

The next morning, a young maidservant awakened Yun Xi, helping her finish breakfast before guiding her into an ornate carriage. Inside were five other flower queens, whispering eagerly about the journey ahead. Yun Xi sat quietly in a corner, separate from the group. The real Min Yue had always kept to herself, making Yun Xi’s quiet demeanor appear perfectly natural.

When the carriage filled with eight passengers, three luxurious carriages left Jinyun City.

For three days, the journey proceeded smoothly without incident. Traveling by day and resting in inns at night, all seemed normal until the fourth evening. After drinking sweet soups specifically prepared for them, the flower queens promptly fell unconscious. Yun Xi knew the moment had arrived, feigning unconsciousness herself.

Half a cup of tea later, the caravan leader received a heavy bag of gold, swiftly placing the women into a dark, ominous carriage, before disappearing hastily.

Feeling the carriage continue for another full day, Yun Xi borrowed Flying Rosy Cloud’s eyes, clearly observing they were heading straight toward the boundary separating the mortal and cultivation worlds. These captives were indeed being smuggled back into the cultivation realm.

Dian Dian, curled silently in Yun Xi’s arms, remained motionless. Its sensitive nose quickly confirmed that their handlers now were definitely demonic cultivators—the foul stench made it impossible to mistake.

Upon confirming demonic involvement, Yun Xi ordered Flying Rosy Cloud to immediately contact Liu Hao Tian and the others. She instructed them to cross the boundary first, setting an ambush in advance. They needed to discover who would meet the demonic cultivators on the cultivation side. If the contact proved demonic, they could seize the moment to act. If not, the recording jade they carried would finally show its worth.

Receiving Yun Xi’s message, Liu Hao Tian, Yu Qing Cheng, and Xia You swiftly moved ahead, bypassing the carriage to arrive first at the boundary known as Cloud Mist Mountain.

True to its name, Cloud Mist Mountain was perpetually enveloped in thick fog. Mortals who entered usually found themselves returning to their starting point, though some vanished entirely. Countless legends surrounded this mysterious peak, but only cultivators knew it concealed a powerful boundary crafted by ancient immortals, guarding against reckless entry into the mortal world.

Surrounded by spiritual energy, the trio effortlessly passed through the barrier, emerging refreshed as if bathed in divine light.

Xia You immediately asked, “Fellow Daoists, should we summon reinforcements?”

Liu Hao Tian frowned slightly, his voice cautious, “First, we must see who greets those flower queens on the other side. Only then will we know if we can handle the situation ourselves. If not, we’ll need to continue shadowing them undetected.”

His tone softened with worry, “Moreover, Fellow Daoist Wei remains trapped in that carriage. Though her cultivation is strong, her experience is limited. I fear she might struggle if something unexpected arises.”